Side wheeler inflated raft



Get. 31, 1961 PENLAND ETAL 3,006,310

7 SIDE WHEELER INFLATED RAFT Filed Aug. 24, 1959 INVENTORS. MINNIE H.PENLAND STUA RT M LLUM BY HA United States Patent Ofifice 3,006,3lPatented Oct. 31, 1961 3,006,310 SIDE WHEELER INFLATED RAFT lVIinnie H.Fenland, 239 Bouair, La Jolla, Calif., and Stuart M. Hallum, 3572 Texas,San Diego, Calif. Filed Aug. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 835,499 4 Claims. (Cl.11523) The present invention relates generally to water craft and moreparticularly to a side wheeler inflated raft.

The primary object of this invent-ion is to provide an inflated rafthaving a side wheeler type paddle assembly mounted thereon in which thepaddles are angularly positioned to facilitate the use of small yeteffective paddles, while providing ample clearance for the hand crankswhich operate the paddles.

Another object of this invention is to provide an inflated raft in whichthe paddles are mounted on a rigid yoke which extends under and aroundthe sides of the raft, so that the paddle action is not affected byflexibility of the raft.

A further object of this invention is to provide an inflated raft inwhich the paddles can be operated in either direction for forward orreverse motion and also differentially for steering.

Finally, it is an object to provide a side wheeler'inflated raft of theaforementioned character which is simple, safe and convenient to operateand which will give generally efiicient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consistsin the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements andportions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification,particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawingwhich forms a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the raft;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elementsand portions throughout the specification and throughout the views ofthe drawing.

The raft is a multi-cell, plastic inflatable type having a plurality ofindividual cells 12 separated by internal webs 14. The cells 12preferably extend transversely although a raft having longitudinal cellsmay also be used. The raft can be made from individual cells joinedtogether or, for ease of manufacture, may be extruded in one piece asillustrated, the process being well known. The ends of the cells 12 areclosed and sealed along common side seams 16 which are reinforced bychanneled edge strips 18 which overlap the seams. For convenience,slotted hand grips 20 are secured to or molded into the edge strips 18to facilitate carrying the raft and to assist in climbing aboard theraft while in the water. To prevent undue flexibility and rolling up ofthe ends of the raft 10, a fiat bottom panel 22, which may also be ofplastic material, is bonded to the underside of the raft. For safetypurposes, the cells 12 are preferably connected in pairs by internalvents 24 in the webs 14, each pair having an individual inflation valve26 of conventional type, so that puncture of one cell will not cause theraft to sink.

The paddle assembly is carried on a rigid yoke 30 comprising a flat,elongated bottom plate 32 having upwardly curved bight portions 34 atopposite ends thereof, said bight portions extending into upwardly andinwardly projecting bearing plates 36. The yoke 30 fits transverselyaround the raft 10 which, when inflated, expands into the bight portions34 and grips the yoke firmly, as in FIGURE 2, with the bearing platesextending angularly inwardly and upwardly over the opposite sides of theraft. If necessary, the yoke 30 can be bonded to the bottom panel 22,although in normal usage the inflation of the raft may be sutficient tohold the yoke in place. For additional rigidity, the yoke is providedwith longitudinally extending reinforcing ribs 38 adjacent the edgesthereof. On the upper surface of each bearing plate 36 is an elongatedbearing 40 formed integrally with or bonded to the hearing plate. Theentire yoke 30 may be molded as a unit from plastic material forsimplicity and lightness, although other materials and construction canbe used if desired.

Journalled within the bearings 40 are upper, inner end portions ofshafts 42, the extremities of which are provided with hand cranks 44-,said shafts having thrust washers 46 fixed there to at the inner oradjacent ends of said bearings. The outer ends of the shafts 42 extendoutwardly and downwardly and carry the paddle wheels 48, spacing sleeves50 being fitted on the shafts between said paddle Wheels and thebearings 40 to provide clearance between the paddle wheels and the raft.Each paddle wheel 48 comprises a backing disc 5-2 having an elongated,axially extending hub 54 into which the shaft 42 fits, the connectionbeing secured by a lock pin 56 through the hub and shaft. Each paddlewheel 48 has a plurality of blades 58 extending radially from the hub 54and tapering from the full diameter of the backing disc 52 to narrow tipportions 60 at the end of the hub. The tapered blades 58 are more rigidthan rectangular blades with unsupported outer corners, yet have amplecontact area in the water clue to the axially angular mounting of thepaddle wheels, the approximate water line indicated in FIGURE 2 servingto illustrate the arrangement. While four paddle blades are illustrated,any suitable number may be used.

The occupant of the raft sits or kneels thereon and can turn the cranks44 in either direction for forward or reverse motion. By using onepaddle wheel 48, or by using both paddle wheels differentially, the raftcan be turned and guided and is highly maneuverable, being capable ofturning in its own length. The raft can be used to tow swimmers graspingthe hand grips 20, and may be used in very shallow water, the paddlewheels being resistant to fouling since the tapered blades 58 will slideoff most obstructions. When deflated, the raft 10 can be rolled up andstored inside the yoke 30.

The operation of this invention will be clearly comprehended from aconsideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical detailsthereof, taken in connection with the drawing and the above recitedobjects. It will be obvious that all said objects are amply achieved bythis invention.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the inventiondisclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scopeof the invention, and that the specification and drawing are to beconsidered as merely illustrative rather than limiting. For example, thecells 12 may be fabricated from sheets of material bonded directlytogether along transverse lines at spaced intervals, instead of asindicated in FIGURE 3. By way of further example, considerablemodification of the raft, as such, is conceived as possible for use witha paddle wheel assembly substantially as disclosed.

We claim:

1. In combination with an inflatable raft, a paddle wheel assembly,comprising: a rigid yoke extending transversely below and around bothsides of said raft; the ends of said yoke having angularly upwardlydisposed plate portions extending inwardly and terminating above saidraft; bearings fixed on said plate portions; shafts freely rotatablymounted in said bearings and extending angularly outwardly anddownwardly from said raft; paddle wheels mounted on the outer ends ofsaid shafts; each of said paddle Wheels having a plurality of taperedblades having their edges converging to narrow tip portions at the outerends thereof; the inner ends of said shafts having manually operablecranks integral therewith.

I 2. In combination with an inflatable raft, a paddle wheel assembly,comprising: a rigid yoke extending transversely below and around bothsides of said raft; the ends of said yoke having angularly upwardlydisposed plate portions extending inwardly and terminating above sm'draft; bearings fixed on said plate portions; shafts freely rotatablymounted in said bearings and extending angularly outwardly anddownwardly from said raft; paddle wheels mounted on the outer ends ofsaid shafts; each of said paddle wheels including a generally flatbacking disc, and a plurality of generally radially projecting bladesextending from said backing disc and tapering to nar row tip portions attheir outer ends; the inner ends of said shafts having manually operablecranks integral therewith.

3. In combination with an inflatable raft, a paddle wheel assemblycomprising: a rigid yoke extending transversely below and aroundopposing sides of said raft, the ends of said yoke terminating above thetop of said raft, and extending angularly inwardly and upwardly-tending*angularly outwardly and downwardly from said 4 raft; paddlewheels mounted on the outer ends of said shafts, each said paddle wheelhaving a plurality of tapered blades having their edges converging atthe outer ends of said shafts; and manually operable crank handles i 5mounted on the inner ends of said shafts.

4. In combination with an inflatable raft, a paddle wheel assemblycomprising: a rigid yoke extending transversely below and around bothsides of said raft, the ends of said yoke terminating above the top ofsaid raft 10 and extending inwardly and upwardly with respect to saidraft; bearings mounted on said ends; shafts rotatably positioned in saidbearings and extending angularly outwardly and downwardly from saidraft; paddle wheels, comprising a plurality of tapered blades, mountedon the outer 15 ends of said shafts; and manually operable cranksmounted on the inner ends of said shafts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,557,990 Doty Oct. 20, 1925 2,253,936 Karst Aug. 26 1941 FOREIGNPATENTS 928,274 Germany May 26, 1955 OTHER REFERENCES Popular MechanicsMagazine (N.Y.), July, 1949-, page 131.

